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T.K. Chiba Shihan, 8th Dan
T.K. Chiba was born February 5, 1940 in Tokyo. At 14
years of age, he began serious Judo training at the
International Judo Academy. He began the study of
Sho To Kan karate at age 16. Dissatisfied with the
martial arts he had studied, he began searching for
the art which would satisfy his yearning.
In 1958 he found Aikido and began seven intensive
years of live-in study as an uchideshi, or
O'Sensei's private student, at Hombu Dojo. By 1960,
Chiba Sensei earned the rank of San Dan, 3rd degree
black belt, and was assigned to Nagoya City to
establish a branch school and serve as its full-time
instructor. In 1962, he earned 4th Dan and began
teaching at Hombu Dojo. Within three years, during
which he taught at many local universities, Chiba
Sensei completed his training as uchideshi, earning
promotion to 5th Dan.
Chiba Sensei moved to Sunderland, England, in 1966.
There he formed the Aikikai of Great Britain, |
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which later changed its name to the British Aikido
Federation. Currently Chiba Sensei is the technical
director of the British Aikikai, a group formed by
long-term students of Chiba Sensei in Britain.
During 1970, he was awarded the title of Shihan,
meaning "teacher of teachers," and received 6th Dan
as well. In 1975, Chiba Sensei returned to Japan and
served as Secretary of the International Department
of Hombu Dojo. During this time he also studied Zen
meditation in Shizouka Prefecture
In 1981, he accepted an invitation from the United
States Aikido Federation (directly affiliated with
Hombu Dojo, Aikido World Headquarters, and currently
headed by Moriteru Ueshiba Doshu) and moved to San
Diego, California. There he formed San Diego
Aikikai. Currently he is Chairman of the Teaching
Committee of Birankai International. He holds the
rank of 8th Dan.
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